sampaguitablog: The Al Robles Express, 2012

In two days we depart from the Philippines, our ancestral homeland, and as I sat listening to my music, I felt moved to express gratitude to our ancestors who walked with us this entire month, held our hands, and smiled with us during every discovery. Maraming salamat to Oscar Penaranda, our guide, always the absent-minded, yet ever talented, patient, and generous professor.

To new and wonderful friends Nena and Vanessa....

And Kathy...

And to Gary with nephew Michael (Oscar's son)....

And to Dr. Lacson, his lovely, sweet daughters Summer and Marjorie.

And to Raymond Alunan from the Negros Museum...

And love to Uncle Lari (Laribo) and Auntie Adele from Bohol...

Appreciation and love to Dito, Dicto, Orange, and Vip in Cebu...

And to Moses Atega in Dumaguete...

And to artist Karl Aguila in Dumaguete...

And to Rosa-Linda-who-loves-her-job at Ice Castle in Cebu...

And to Inting, Dito's driver, who took us all around along with Vip to Carcar and Sibonga to find family.

And to the Davao Writer's Group: Monica, Tita LaCambra Ayala,Josie, Jhoanna, Ricky...

And to Maan Chua for the personal tour of Ponce Suites and her husband Kublai's artwork; and again to Monica Ayala and her mother Tita La Cambra Ayala for taking us around after dinner together in Davao...

And to Father D.J. de los Reyes of Ateneo University and the chefs: Roma, Oliver, and RR for preparing a beautiful meal for us at the rectory...

And to the wonderful staff at CEO Suites in Makati, especially Abil-with-the-sunshine-smile (2nd from L), and Melanie, the BEST directions ever (3rd from L)...